Orkney acts on child abuse report

THE HEAD of the social services department at the time of the Orkney child abuse scandal was suspended on full pay yesterday, writes James Cusick.

Paul Lee was told to stay away from work after a three- hour meeting of Orkney Islands Council agreed to support the recommendations of an internal inquiry committee set up to look at the findings of Lord Clyde's report into the removal of nine children in 1991. The Clyde report was published in October last year.

Mr Lee said last night that he would challenge the move. In the light of the Clyde report it was 'hard to see the council's action as anything other than scapegoating . . .'

The council also accepted the advice of the judicial inquiry committee that their findings 'did not warrant disciplinary action being taken against any other present employee of the council'.